Former Tesla Engineer Accuses Elon Musk

SadaNews - A former engineer at Tesla has broken his silence after 8 years of working within the company, sharply criticizing CEO Elon Musk and accusing him of "betraying the company's climate mission" and harming democratic institutions.

Giorgio Balistrieri, who joined Tesla in 2017 as an algorithm engineer, published a lengthy post on his LinkedIn account expressing his professional frustration and deep concern over Musk's political leanings and their impact on the company's future.

The Real Reason Behind the Resignation

In his post, Balistrieri described the primary reason for his departure as "the elephant in the room" — referring to what he views as significant harm Musk has caused to Tesla's original mission and to democracy in several countries.

He added that Musk's leadership decisions "seem dangerously dysfunctional," which made it impossible for him to continue at a company that, according to him, no longer embodies the values for which he joined.

Direct Accusations Against Musk

The former engineer recounted a series of behaviors that led him to the decision to leave, including lying to the public, manipulating public discourse, targeting minorities, supporting climate change deniers, as well as assisting political forces linked to the oil and gas industry.

He affirmed that these actions contradict the urgent need to confront the climate crisis, noting that the U.S. administration obstructs the transition in the energy sector, and that time is not on the world's side.

Worrying Political Shift

Balistrieri recalled a famous tweet from Musk in June 2017 in which he stated, "Climate change is real.. Leaving the Paris Agreement is not good for America or the world." He pointed out that Musk later changed his stance, getting closer to former President Donald Trump, before their relationship soured and Musk was pushed out of political influence, expressing his discontent via social media.

For Balistrieri, this political shift revealed Musk's willingness to navigate political positions that serve his personal interests, even if at the expense of Tesla's environmental mission.

Point of No Return

After 8 years of work, the engineer stated that his decision to resign was not emotional but well-considered, coming after he realized that the contradictions between the company's values and the behavior of its leadership had become unbearable. He emphasized that Tesla has started to deviate from its core mission, and Musk's support for misinformation, targeting minorities, and aligning with fossil fuel interests are all indicators of this deviation.

A Matter Bigger than Just Resignation

Balistrieri's resignation, as observers say, reflects a deeper crisis within one of the world's most influential electric vehicle companies. While Tesla continues to promote its sustainable vision, the former engineer's words raise serious questions about the extent of political leadership's impact on the company's future and the global battle against climate change.